I feel like there's a "newborn" version readily available in just about EVERYTHING... but I've noticed that it's really hard to find bibs that are made for smaller babies. With both of my children, I would put a "one size" bib to contain their "spit up" and they'd end up with a ring of dampness around the neck line of their clothing before anything even touched the bib... Annoying.
My solution? Make my own bibs! While I will definitely NOT claim to be an expert seamstress (very far from it, actually), bibs are super easy to put together, even for a novice. You can "upcycle" bibs using materials already in your home (ecofriendly!), and nothing but a simple straight stitch on the most basic of sewing machines will do!
You'll need a few things to put this together, so we'll start there:
- Sewing Machine, threaded and ready to go
- Scissors (preferably fabric scissors)
- Paper & Washable marker or fabric pen
- Cotton fabric & Water resistant or absorbent fabric
- Pins or clamps to hold your fabric together
- 0-3 Month Bib Pattern
Pattern
I've uploaded my 0-3 Month Bib Pattern in PDF format. You can access it at the link below. I recommend testing the pattern by holding it up to your child before cutting your fabric. Remember that this is a scaled down bib - if you have older children, they'll need something a little larger.
Fabric Choices
Bibs serve a simple purpose for infants of this age - Keeping your baby's clothing clear of spit up and drool. But they can also be a fashion statement! For the top layer, or "topper," see if you have anything laying around that's bright and fun for your baby - I used an adorable 100% cotton woodland animal fabric. You can also use old flannel receiving blankets.
The bottom layer, or "backer," needs to be more functional though - This means you'll need fabric that will either resist/absorb the wet stuff, or block it all together. I picked fleece, which is water resistant, and added an inner "hidden" layer of PUL, a synthetic material that is waterproof - but that's optional and not everyone will have PUL laying around. You can use old towels and washcloths as backers and it will work just fine.
Stacking & Pinning
Once you've got your fabric together, use the pattern to create your template for the bib and cut out your topper and backer. Stack them up with the "right sides" facing. We'll be sewing this together inside-out, so whatever your want showing once you're done should be on the inside of this fabric sandwich.
Once you've lined up your fabric, pin it into place. I used fabric pins, but you can even use paperclips if you need too - just something to hold the pieces in line while you sew. Use as many pins/clips as you need to hold everything together. You want to make sure that the fabric is even and that nothing is bunched up. It should look something like this:
Sew it Together
Now it's time to get sewing! Use a quarter inch seam allowance and sew around the shape of the bib as evenly as you can - go slow if you're new at this! Because we are turning and top stitching the bib, remember to leave a
space or "hole" of at least one inch so that you can turn the bib. Note for you newbies: As you reach any of your pins/clips, remove them so that the needle doesn't go over them (that could break the needle and is dangerous!)
Turning
This is where it can be a struggle if you aren't careful. Because you are making the fabric "right side out" again, you need to pull the entire bib through that tiny little gap you left open. The first hint I have for you is to "miter" your corners - Use your fabric scissors to trim down the quarter inch seam along your curves, without cutting your stitches - trust me, this is a life saver!
The second hint for turning your bib is be sure to pull fabric from the opposite side of the bib FIRST. It makes things a lot easier. Try to be as gentle as you can with the fabric. Once you've got things right side out, use a pencil or stick to gently poke at the inside of the fabric to make sure that everything has been fully turned. It should look something like this when you're done:
Top Stitching & Closure
Now that you've got your bib fully turned, we want to top stitch the entire thing. This will seal the one inch hole you used for your turn space, and it will make your bib retain it's shape through use and washing. I pin the turn space during this process - make sure that you fully close that up with your top stitch! The goal of your seam allowance on this one should be 1/8 of an inch. Even mine was a little off in places, so take your time and go as slow as you need too!
Once your top stitch is done, the last step is your closure. This really depends on you - I used snaps which are so easy to do that I didn't even bother taking a photo - But you can sew on a button, or sew on velcro. Test the bib around your baby's neck first to make sure that you don't make it too snug - remember, this pattern is already scaled down for smaller babies!
You're Done!
Once the top stitching and closure are done, you're ready to use your bib! If you're interested in my patterns for bibs made for larger babies and toddlers, let me know. My little girl is about to grow out of this size, so I'll be retiring my collection - But they were fun and inexpensive to make!
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